Students and faculty have expressed concerns regarding safety on campus following recent vehicular break-ins and stolen property on campus and near housing.
Sam Preston, assistant director of Public Safety, said USI has cameras on campus and housing but did not specify where.
Public Safety reported a motor vehicle theft Monday that was later found in Posey County. They reported motor theft from a vehicle 10:33 p.m. Tuesday outside the O’Daniel South apartments.
University Strategic Communications issued a timely warning to students via email Monday per Jeanne Clery Act requirements. The email detailed the motor vehicle theft that occurred between Sunday night and Monday morning.
Evan Scott, sophomore computer science major, said he never realized the lack of security cameras on campus housing.
“They definitely should have them there to keep an eye on cars overnight,” Scott said.
Melissa Stacer, professor of criminal justice, thinks Public Safety is doing all it can.
“We have a wonderful Public Safety staff, but they cannot be everywhere all the time,” Stacer said.
Stacer also said despite her faith in Public Safety, events like these are reason for caution.
“There’s this feeling of violation when somebody breaks into your apartment or your home, they break into your car, and we think about USI as a safe place,” Stacer said. “I think it is a safe place. I’m hopeful that these are isolated incidents.”
Allison Weichman, junior English major, said the lack of security cameras is “crazy.”
“The egging happened, the cheesing happened and now the cars,” Weichman said. “They’ve got to be doing something, man.”
Sam Preston said patrol increased in light of the events.
“We have already increased our patrol on campus,” Preston said. “We have reached out to other partners, such as the sheriff’s office, to have them increase their patrol as well. We did ask our officers to pay particular attention to our campus housing in the evening hours.”
Lily Robbins, junior psychology major, said Public Safety should have different ways to communicate with students.
“Just maybe more awareness about the fact that it is happening, because I didn’t hear a whole about it, other than the one email that was sent out on Monday,” Robbins said.
Students and faculty can call Public Safety at 812-492-7777 or use the Rave Guardian app to report suspicious activity on campus.